Featuring Kenny Carkeet (Awolnation) and Brian Viglione (the Dresden Dolls, Violent Femmes, Nine Inch Nails), Barfbag are a pissed-off, politically charged punk-rock outfit with a message of revolution and the chops to back it up. The band was spearheaded by David Bason — a music industry veteran who has put in time at Roadrunner Records, Century Media and other noted heavy-music labels — after he became frustrated with the lack of protest records being released in our current era of discord and dissent. He assembled his riot squad and together they created the forthcoming The Plastic Age EP, with Viglione writing songs in addition to playing drums, guitar and bass, and Carkeet handling guitar and production duties.
Today — Earth Day — Barfbag have teamed with Revolver to unleash standout cut "Right to Fight Back," a none-too-subtle call to arms. Blast it below and read Bason's commentary.
"This song stems from the basic tenets of Liberation Theology," Bason says. "It's a reminder that the way things are is not the way things have to be. You have to use the tools at your disposal and sometimes violence is justified. Violence is a tool the state uses to control people. The state grants armed forces the right to use violence in order to maintain order. But who decides what is in the best interest of the people? We have all given tacit consent for the state to protect us from a violent and dangerous life. In return we agree not to be violent towards others. But sometimes the state's interests are not in line with those of the people and thus the social contract must be questioned. Sometimes you have to take back your right to harm in order check the greed of those in power.
"It's Earth Day. We've got a madman in the White House rolling back environmental regulations in order to line his pockets. It's time to check the kleptocracy and the oppressed have always done so by taking to the streets. See you out there. Throw a brick."
